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Online services bring new competition for rural appraisers

Learning more about the competition of online appraisals is a top priority for the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

President Seth Baker tells Brownfield the option of online appraisals for things like land values and cash rents might be faster and cheaper in some cases, but farmers can miss out on an array of other benefits.

“We see one of the biggest advantages is just being on the farm itself. We visit the farm, visit with the farmer and learn what is going on to make sure the land is being taken care of.”

He says online options take care of the economic side but could neglect the quality of the land.

“If fertility is dropping or drainage is not being taken care of, we feel like you need to be out there on the farm talking to the tenant to figure those things out.”

And from a landowner perspective, Baker says the personal connection of an appraiser can help in understanding farmland goals.

Brownfield interviewed Baker at the ISPFMRA annual meting in Peoria.